Wrench



C. E. VANDENBERG.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR-7.1920.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

9 a II I' 1N VE NT OR s'res Frlfitii WRENCH.

Application filed April 7,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. VAN- DENBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherrygrove, in the county of lVarren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench with a screw-operated jaw with a locking means for locking the screw in adjustment. This is particularly desirable in a wrench in which the movable jaw is provided with a rack in which the threads of the adjusting screw operate. lVith such a device the pressure on the movable jaw acting on the screw tends to loosen the jawthrough the turning of the screw especially if the wrench is used for any length of time with a fixed adjustment.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings as r'ol1ows:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

1 marks the fixed jaw, 2 a handle extending from the fixed jaw, 3 a movable jaw, and 4 a shank on the movable jaw, this shank extending into a guide slot 1 in the fixed jaw. A screw rack 5 is formed on the lower edge of the shank a and an opening 6 is arranged in the handle immediately below the guide slot 1 A pin 7 bridges the opening 6 extending through a perforation 8 in the handle at one side of the opening 6 and into a screwthreaded perforation 9 at the opposite side of the opening 6. An operating screw 10 is mounted on the pin 7 and is of such diameter with relation to the position of the pin 7 that its threads engage and operate in the teeth of the rack 5 on the shank at. By turning the screw 10 the screw operating on the rack moves the jaw 3 to any adjustment desired. Wrenches of the form so far described are in common use and where the use of the wrench is but momentary at one adjustment, this adjustment oi the screw will suffice but where the wrench is used for a period of time with one adjustment, the adjustment tends to shift and the purpose of this invention is to obviate this tendency.

The screw operates against a steel plate 11 which is mounted on the pin 7. A. c

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 371,860.

shaped opening 10 is provided in the opposite side of the screw and this is engaged by a tapered end 12 on a sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 extends through the perforation 8 and is provided with a key 13 to prevent its turning. A part of the sleeve immediately back of the head 12 is screw-threaded at and a screw 15 is mounted on the screw-threaded portion 14:.

When the movable jaw is adjusted to the desired position by the operating screw 10, the screw 15 is turned and this operating on the screw 14: crowds the sleeve 12 forward carrying the tapered head 152' into the tapered opening 10 in the operating nut 10, thus locking the nut 10 in its desired adjust-i'nent. A very slight locking action on the screw 10 will hold itin adjustment for an indefinite period. It will be noted that the head 12 is arranged in the opening carrying the screw 10 so that there are no exposed parts.

What I claim as new is 1. In a wrench, the combination of a fixed jaw having a handle extending therefrom with a removable jaw guide-way and a screw-opening therein; a movable jaw having a shank slidingly mounted in said guideway; a rack on the shank; an operating screw mounted in the opening meshing with the rack; a pin bridging the opening on which the operating screw is mounted; a sleeve mounted on the pin; and a locking screw on the sleeve adapted to force the sleeve into engagement with the operating screw.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a fixed jaw having a handle extending therefrom with a removable jaw guide-way and a screw-opening therein; a movable jaw havin a shank slidingly mounted in said guideway; a rack on the shank; an operating screw mounted in the opening meshing with the rack; a pin bridging the opening on which the operating screw is mounted; a sleeve mounted on the pin having a locking screw-thread thereon; a nut on said locking screw-thread and acting with said screwthread for forcing the sleeve forward, said nut being arranged in said screw opening; and means for locking the sleeve against turning.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' CLARENCE E. VANDENBERG. 

